The current design of the BMW M3 is not the best the company has produced because of its design, although that will change with the 2014 BMW M3, as it will have a complete overhaul. This is very different to the 2014 BMW M5, as this will only have a minor facelift, as its design is considered the better of the two.

Today we thought we would have a little recap of what to expect from each, such as styling and more importantly, anticipating the 2014 BMW M3 and M5 specs.

While there is still a lot of love for the BMW 3-Series, most of us would aspire to owning the M3 version, so what changes can we expect to see? We’ve already seen several spy shots of the new version, but the 2014 BMW M3 rendering allows you to see what is to come, and we have to say it will be a thing of beauty, although what’s lurking underneath will be a beast.

Image thanks to Bimmerpost.

The front has a more aggressive look thanks to its wider stance and flared wheel wells. Replacing the V8 will be a straight-six turbocharged engine producing 450 horsepower, which is a huge number of ponies for a car of this size. The new model is expected to be lighter and so will have improved fuel economy compared to the outgoing model.

Suspension and handling will also be improved and there will be a choice of six-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

If you are looking for something a little larger then the 2014 BMW M5 might be right up your street. The image you see below is a leaked image of what said car will look like, and we have to say it’s very easy on the eye. The minor facelift is just a rework of the current design, which will please those who love the current model.

The rear of the car has stayed pretty much the same, while the interior has just a few minor changes, such as a new touchpad and iDrive controller. There’s no word on what will power the new model, but Autocar believes the new engine will produce more power, as well as improved handling thanks to new suspension and steering.

Not much else is known about the 2014 BMW M3 and M5, but once we know more we will keep you fully informed.

We have to yet receive official confirmation of the BMW i3 price, although if recent rumors are correct, then the i3 could be priced to fail. We say this because the upcoming electric vehicle could cost around $40,000, which for the same money could get you a well-equipped 3-Series sedan instead, and I know which of the two I’d rather have.

Again, we cannot take this as the real price of the i3, but according to Automotive News, this is what Ludwig Willisch, BMW’s North America CEO, has hinted.

There will be many of you asking why should you spend so much on a small EV when the Nissan Leaf costs a fraction of this price. But you have to remember that this is a premium EV, and as such is priced accordingly. Having said that, we had assumed BMW would charge even more.

What’s interesting is the fact that there is no competition for the BMW i3 just yet, as you have the Tesla Model S in the high-range EV bracket and the likes of the Leaf, Spark EV and the like down in the low-end. With this in mind sales could be better than we assume, and if they are then we expect to see other car manufacturers catering for this new range.

We should not get our hopes up and expect the i3 or the i8 to sell in larger quantities, as there were just 53,000 electric vehicles sold in the US in 2012. There are two reasons for this, the first is that the price of these EVs is still far to high, but the main factor is the batteries just don’t have the range just yet. It’s the same old issue, most technology is progressing, but battery technology is moving at a much slower pace.

Going back to that rumored i3 $40,000 price tag, you have to take into consideration that it could qualify for $7,500 federal tax credit, but this has yet to be confirmed, although it’s looking pretty good to get this tax break.

Over the years the SUV has been very successful, but US drivers, as well as their European counterparts are more conscious about how much fuel our vehicles consume. This trends shows no sign in slowing down, and therefore you will see many vehicles being developed with less emissions, as well as losing a few pounds in the process.

Take the 2014 BMW X1 parking footprint, it’s almost the same as the Range Rover Evoque, Ford Escape, which has a roofline several inches shorter than standard-size SUVs. BMW seems to be doing a good job in covering various markets, such as the compact, SUV, CUV, sedan, coupe and convertible.

To give you an idea of size, the X1 is around 6-inches shorter than the X3, and while the wheel-base is going to be smaller than that of the X3, it’s still more than ample for you and your passengers. As you would imagine you will sit higher than a sedan, which is of great appeal to so many drivers, as they don’t want to be as high as a full-size SUV because of issues with body roll, but they want to sit just higher than a sedan, as this gives them a more commanding view of the road ahead.

We already know that there is a decent amount of room for passengers, but there are a few space issues, such as cargo space, which is also a huge issue if you have gone from the Range Rover Sport down to the Range Rover Evoque. If you were hoping for more cargo space than a sedan, then you will be left feeling a little disappointed with the X1. A full 2014 BMW X1 review can be found over at The Car Connection.

In the past I have not be impressed with vehicles like the 2014 BMW X1 because they are designed more for on-road than off, and so a four-wheel drive system seemed pointless, as well as taking more fuel to run as well. However, Land Rover understood this, and so released a 2WD version of the Range Rover Evoque, which made me rethink my opinion, just a bit.

The last car recall we discussed was a few days ago, but now there is another as BMW has announced a list of recalls, which includes the 1 Series, 3 Series and also the Z4. The reason for these recalls is due to an electrical issue, which we’ll look at in a little while.

There is said to be about 570,000 BMW vehicles affected by this recall, so this is one of the worst for 2013. These BMW recalls only affect those in Canada and the US, so no fears for those of you in the UK.

Included in the lists of BMW vehicles in this latest recall are the 2008 to 2011, 1 Series (128i and 135i), 2007 to 2011 3 Series (328i and 335i) and also the 2008 to 2011 Z4 roadster.

It seems that a faulty battery is to blame, well the connectors to be more precise. It seems that in some cases these can fail and could cause the engine to cut out, which could be very serious because you would lose your power steering and also the brakes as well.

The risk of crash is very high in this instance, which is why this recall will need to happen. We can remember a similar recall in Europe last year, and the solution is the same, as the BMW dealer will need to replace the positive cable connector on the battery free of charge.

If you fear that you are affected by this and wish to check to see if your vehicle will need to be recalled, then you would need to contact BMW or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, their phone numbers are 1-800-525-7417 and 1-888-327-4236 respectively.

It would be far easier if BMW offer a VIN check, so you could find out much quicker if your model was affected by this recall.

If you were to ask those who visit the Detroit Auto Show what car has stood out for them you’re certain to get a mixed reaction. However, we bet that a huge percentage will tell you that the German car manufactures are on top of their game this year, which is evident when you look at the best of the bunch, the 2014 Audi RS7 and the BMW M6 Gran Coupe.

The RS and M badges on their respective brands will tell you that there is not only a vast amount of power under the hood but also handling to match. While we love America muscle cars, these are often unrefined beasts that cower when approacing a series of corners, unlike their European counterparts, although we can’t help but fall in love with the C7 Corvette Stingray.

The Audi RS7 Sportback is a direct competitor to the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, along with the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG 4-Matic. However, in the past Mercedes always seems to struggle in the handling department when compared to their German rivals. Both the Audi and BMW are evenly matched so it will come down to two key features, price and street appeal.

Which of the two gets your vote? The Audi RS7 is said to have a top speed of 189.5 mph (305 km/h) and a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.9 seconds. The BMW M6 has a top speed of pretty much the same but a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 4.2 seconds. View the videos below of both these cars, which looks at the most important features of each.

The issue with the 911 is because there could be interference with the coolant and fuel line, which in some cases could mean that the fuel line could become disconnected to the connector, if this happens then fuel could leak causing a misfire or in some cases the car could stall, which could be dangerous in certain situations and could even catch fire.

Those who have affected vehicles will be notified by Porsche and have their car booked in to be repaired for free, this should begin in April. For those who fear they have an affected model should contact Porsche on 1-800-767-7243. More details can be found by visiting the NHTSA website.

As for BMW the issue is much worse because there are 1.3 million vehicles being recalled due to a potential issue with the battery-cable cover, we are told that this is one of the largest recalls for the German automaker. There are cases where the cable cover that is inside the trunk/boot could be fitted incorrectly, if this is the case then there could be a failure with the electrical system, which could lead to a possible fire risk.

BMW 5 and 6 Series built between 2003 and 2010 could be affected so you are advised to contact your local dealer or customer service in your region; thankfully there have been no reports of injury. Those affected by the recall will be notified by BMW soon and the free fix will only take 30 minutes to resolve. Again more details on this recall can be found by heading over to the WSJ.

As you would imagine the spies have been out with their cameras and you can see that the doors look very similar to those used on the McLaren F1, SLR and the Ferrari Enzo. This is one of the features that were seen in the concept design; so nice to see it has been left in because there are a number of elements that have been taken out already.

These awesome looking butterfly doors look just like they did in the concept and the cameo role the BMW i8 made in the recent Mission Impossible movie. These doors do seem much safer than those on the Mercedes SLS AMG because we know they require explosive charges if the car roles during an accident, although we cannot be certain if they will still need the explosive charges.

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice the doors are not made mostly of glass; this is for two reasons safety and cost. To see the glass removed from the door below the belt line check out the video, we have to warn you that you could either go snow blind from all the white or suffer an adverse effect from the camouflage.

It’s finally nice to see new cars coming out that truly look like they belong in the 21st century and the BMW i8 is certainly one of them, from the design to the technology used to give it the power and fuel consumption promised to us. While this may be a sports car it shows that cars do not have to be bad for the environment in the process, more details on this can be found from the official i8 webpage.

We are unsure of an exact release date for the i8 but we believe it will be in the latter part of 2013 and will have a sticker price in the region of $350,000 to $400,000 USD. While this will seem like a lot of money you have to realize that the technology being used is cutting edge and comes at a cost.

There is to be an all-new Kia codenamed the KH and could be an unlikely rival to BMW because it’s going to be the first Kia to come with rear-wheel drive. It’s hard not to see the importance here, as having the power going to the rear wheels gives the car a completely different dynamic when it comes to driving, something that BMW has been doing for years.

We cannot be certain if the Kia KH will be coming to the US but it needs to if the company has any hope of achieving the sales they are hoping for, although we do know the likes of Korea and Europe will get the new model. The growth that Kia has been experiencing lately has been astounding and it’s because of cars like this that has helped them achieve this.

Looking at one or two sketches of the KH here we can’t help but think of the BMW 7 Series and Maserati-esque grille when we look at the front end of the car, mixed with a bit of Aston Martin for good measure. We are certain that a few car fans will be thinking this is a blatant copy of BMW’s model but the finished design should look very different to what we are seeing now.

BMW must be a little wary of Kia’s new vehicle because it will be a fraction of the price of the 7 Series, although there will still be some people who will say you pay for what you get – not sure that’s being said as often in these hard times?

Why should this sketch surprise us because back in December BMW’s chief designer Christopher Chapman left the German company to go and work for Kia instead, so yes we could begin to see many more cheaper cars looking like a Beamer.

The jury is still out if this is a good thing or not because having a cheaper version of a BMW on our streets could begin to affect sales of the real thing becasue passersby may have to do a double take if a top businessman is driving a Kia and not a BMW.

The German automaker has announced it will recall around 235,535 vehicles from the Mini range, and according to a report on CNN is because of a faulty electric water pump for the turbocharger. The pump may go wrong and may cause the connected electronic circuit to overheat, which can then smoke or even worse catch fire.

The system in the Mini’s works differently from those found on the BMW and Rolls-Royce cars that have also been recalled in the past, BMW has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but some Mini models have caught fire in the same way.

BMW is still looking at the root of the problem to see if it is related or simply coincidental, and so far there have been 81 cases of the problem in the Mini Coopers around the world. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries so far according to BMW.

Models involved in the recall include model years between 2007 and 2011 Mini Cooper S convertibles and hatchbacks. Also the three door Mini Cooper Clubman S, Mini Cooper Countryman S, along with the John Cooper Works version of the Mini Cooper. All non-turbocharged Minis are not affected by the recall.

Dealers will replace the affected water pumps and owners will be contacted, but owners can contact their dealer where the vehicle came from. In the US customers can call 1-800-831-1117 or email customerrelations@bmwusa.com.

Do you own a Mini affected by the recall?

According to Rush Lane the German car manufacturer has announced it is to recall more than 32,000 vehicles, which were manufactured between 2008 and 2011. The problem surrounds a faulty auxiliary water pump that may cause overheating, which can then lead to a fire in the worst case scenario.

The models at the center of the recall include the BMW 5 series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X5 SAV, and X6 SAV. It includes models with either the eight or twelve cylinder turbo charged power plants, which can be in danger of overheating because of the problem so will now be recalled.

So far there have been over a hundred reported pump failures and two engine compartment fires, but no injuries or crashes have been reported. The auxiliary pump is used to cool the turbocharger, and if the unit fails overheating will occur.

The problem was first picked up by BMW in 2009 and then again in April 2010, where a burning electrical wire was found in a BMW vehicle. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by BMW beginning next month, and dealers will replace the pump and ensure proper functioning.